Finger joint pain is a general term that describes a range of symptoms that occur in the finger joints, such as pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of mobility.
Joints are formed wherever two or more bones meet. Each finger has three joints; each thumb has two. It is important to have movement at each joint because they all contribute to the overall function of the hand and are necessary for all types of tasks, including those involving grasping, lifting, and writing.
In addition to the narrow bones, the fingers also have ligaments, which connect the finger bones and help keep them in place, and tendons, which connect the muscles to the bones. Finger movement is controlled by the muscles of the hand and forearm that pull on the finger tendons.
What causes finger joint pain?
There are two main causes:
- Injuries, including sprains (in which the ligaments are injured) and strains (in which the tendons are injured). Both sprains and strains are common, but you’re more likely to experience joint pain with a sprain because a sprain affects the joint more directly, while a strain affects the structures around the joint. Injuries can also include “hammer finger,” which results from an injury to the tendon that straightens the fingertip or thumb, causing limited range of motion, pain, and swelling.
- Arthritis, which causes inflammation of the joints, typically presents with pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, and stiffness. The most common is osteoarthritis (OA), which usually first affects the finger joints, including the base of the thumb. The second most common type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune inflammatory disease that typically affects the small joints of the hands, including the fingers and thumbs.
Additionally, there are other indirect causes of finger pain that are not related to joint problems but are due to an underlying condition affecting the tendons in your fingers, such as:
- De Quervain’s tenosynovitis: Painful swelling around the thumb tendons often causes pain near the base of the thumb, which can affect the wrist and radiate to the forearm.
- Trigger finger: This is a condition that can freeze your fingers or thumbs in a bent position. It affects the tendons in these fingers and is so-called because they can get stuck in a certain position, making it look like you’re trying to pull an invisible trigger.
What remedies help relieve finger joint pain?
Treatment for finger pain focuses on reducing pain and inflammation to improve movement in your fingers.
The following tips may help you relieve finger pain:
1. Reduce stress
One of the most important things to do when you have finger pain is to reduce stress in that area. But instead of stopping an activity altogether, focus on reducing stress by adapting the activity and making it easier on your body. For example, if you’re writing a to-do list or tackling a stack of thank you cards, take breaks or use a larger, easier-to-hold pen.
2. Use ice and heat
Each method has a different effect on pain relief. Ice reduces inflammation and heat relaxes tissues so you can move more.
3. Engage in exercise therapy
Movement helps in many ways, including reducing swelling and increasing mobility. Gentle exercise signals to your body and pain system that it’s safe to move. A common misconception about exercises that work on a small area like your fingers is that they won’t provide much benefit, but just because they don’t feel challenging or sweaty doesn’t mean they won’t make a difference over time in your daily function and quality of life
4. Modify daily activities that hurt your hands
Whether you’re recovering from an injury or living with arthritis in your hands and fingers, there are ways to reduce stress on your joints, including using assistive devices like utensils or kitchen tools with larger handles. The increased diameter of these devices helps take the extra pressure off the small joints in your fingers. You should also use the larger joints in your upper body for certain tasks, such as carrying a grocery bag in your palm instead of through your fingers.
